17 replies to this topic

[CNJRoss]

Shipping Instructions Update
Released: Sep 02, 2005

CSX Corporation is meeting the needs of its customers outside of the immediate Gulf Coast storm area by re-routing rail traffic through its well-established western gateways, including East St. Louis, Ill.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Montgomery, Ala.

CSX asks that customers continue to route their traffic as they have in the past, until CSX notifies them of alternative routing plans and/or shipping instructions changes.

The company will continue to post changes in shipping instructions on www.csx.com. Click on "Customers." Information is also available through CSX Customer Service at 1-877-744-7279.

[RailHaRRy]

Some specifics about CSX damage from a Gene Poon e-mail on 8/31:

Initial report of damage to NS in the New Orleans area, based on a
survey done on Tuesday, Aug. 30:

Atlanta-Meridian: clear and open.
Meridian-Hattiesburg: tracks blocked by hundreds of fallen trees.
Hattiesburg-New Orleans:

Pearl River to Slidell - many trees on ROW, 1/4 mile of railroad washed out.

North Shore to North Draw - 1 mile of ballast completely washed out.

North Draw to South Point - 4.5 miles of rail from bridge missing on the
bridge at Lake Ponchartrain, 2 box sections of bridge missing, 200 feet
washed out at south end of bridge

MP 178 - MP 184 - washouts

MP 184 - MP 195 - many washouts

Oliver Yard - 15 ft of flood water.

CSX from the Biloxi area to New Orleans:

It's bad. So much washed out, it's no use listing it all and the report
from the aerial survey isn't in yet. Most track and roadbed will need
complete reconstruction.

There are three CSX bridges over outlets from Lake Pontchartrain. The
Bayou Sara Bridge appears OK. Rigolets Bridge, three miles long, has
not been inspected. An independent report says the Chef Menteur bridge
had its machinery house washed away.

[AmtrakFan]

I have Photos of the destroyed Bay St. Louis Bridge e-mail me for them

[CNJRoss]

Service Bulletin - Service Update
Released: Sep 07, 2005

Work continues on CSXT's lines between Pascagoula, Miss., and New Orleans, La., which were damaged by Hurricane Katrina last week. Service remains suspended along that segment of the railroad.

CSXT's network between Mobile and Flomaton, Ala., and between Mobile and Pascagoula, Miss., was restored over the Labor Day weekend. Service on these lines will resume after assessment of individual customers' track and equipment ensures that their shipments can be moved safely.

Traffic that would normally move into or out of New Orleans is being rerouted to other locations on the CSXT network, and interchange traffic with western rail carriers is being routed through the Montgomery, Ala., Nashville and St. Louis gateways. CSXT is making every effort to reroute traffic while minimizing any additional administrative burdens on customers.

CSX is continuing its communications with customers and rail interchange partners and is coordinating its service restoration plans with theirs.

[CNJRoss]

CSX Press Release:

CSX Prepays Property Taxes to Assist in Storm Relief
Providing Jobs, Assistance for Storm-Affected Employees
Released: Sep 08, 2005

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 8, 2005 - CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) announced today that it is prepaying approximately $600,000 in property taxes to Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties in Mississippi to assist with urgent cash needs related to Hurricane Katrina. The company is also pledging to do the same in affected Louisiana and Alabama counties where it has operations.

"We are grateful to CSX for this very helpful assistance at a time of great need," said Wayne Brown, Southern District Commissioner of the Mississippi State Department of Transportation. "The CSX tax prepayment represents a model of cooperation that other able companies can follow. With the public and private sectors working together, we will rebuild from this crisis."

For its approximately 300 Gulf Coast employees most affected by the hurricane, CSX is providing guaranteed pay and benefits through September, as well as temporary job assignments at other locations. In addition, the company to date has committed $600,000 to $700,000 in employee and community assistance through efforts including, but not limited to:

-an additional $1,000 payment for each affected employee to assist with urgent needs.

-a $1,250-per-month living allowance for employees on temporary job assignment.

-a minimum of $300,000 in additional employee and community assistance. This includes a $125,000 contribution to the company's Employee Disaster Relief Fund (EDRF), a $125,000 contribution to the American Red Cross relief efforts, and an additional dollar-for-dollar match to employee contributions made to both funds. Employee contributions to those funds currently exceed $80,000. The EDRF, a 501©3 organization, was established to help employees affected by the 1992 Hurricane Andrew in South Florida.

-transportation of canned food, clothing and emergency supplies by truck to Alabama and Mississippi.

"We are actively supporting CSX people and their neighbors in the areas hard hit by Hurricane Katrina," said Michael Ward, CSX chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We look forward to hearing from every one of our employees as soon as possible and will continue to join hands with other members of the business community, government and charitable organizations to provide assistance at this difficult time."

CSX has established a resource center (1-800-633-4067) to put employees in the most severely damaged areas in touch with the help they need. The company also has established a Hurricane Katrina-related web page on www.csx.com.

Hurricane Katrina caused significant damage to a confined area of the CSX rail network in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Repair work already has begun, and the company has rerouted rail traffic to ensure customer service.

CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., owns companies providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services that are among the nation's leading transportation companies, connecting more than 70 river, ocean and lake ports, as well as more than 230 short line railroads. Its principal operating company, CSX Transportation Inc., operates the largest railroad in the eastern United States with a 22,000-mile rail network linking commercial markets in 23 states, the District of Columbia, and two Canadian provinces. CSX Intermodal is a stand-alone integrated intermodal company, serving customers with its own truck and terminal operations plus a dedicated domestic container fleet. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at the company's web site, www.csx.com.

[Sam Damon]

I'm not quite sure where to put this note, so I'll put it here.

Network X moved the first good video of Katrina-zapped railroad track I've seen to date. A double-track line was blown -- and I mean blown the width of two gauges.

It goes without saying the bridges were taken out as well. Pity I don't have the rights to the video, or I'd share it here.

Could someone give me an idea of what line(s) were double track in that area? I'm guessing CSX, which is why I'm posting this note here.

[CNJRoss]

Service Bulletin - Service Update, Sept. 15
Released: Sep 15, 2005

Hurricane Ophelia
Hurricane Ophelia began its approach to within 60 miles of coastal North Carolina early Sept. 14. It is expected to skirt the area from Wilmington, N.C., northeast along the Outer Banks through Thursday.

CSXT operations on its lines at Wilmington, N.C., were suspended on Tuesday evening, Sept. 13. Crossing gates have been secured in the area. Earlier this week, equipment and ballast was staged outside the projected storm area to aid in cleanup of storm debris and track and signal restoration after the storm passes. CSX will begin inspections of its network as soon as weather conditions permit.

We will continue to monitor the storm and will consider suspending service along CSX's coastal routes, including those near Lee Creek and Plymouth, N.C., as weather conditions dictate.

Hurricane Katrina Restoration
Work continues on CSXT's lines between Pascagoula, Miss., and New Orleans, La., which were damaged by Hurricane Katrina last week. Service remains suspended along that segment of the railroad.

CSXT's network between Mobile and Flomaton, Ala., and between Mobile and Pascagoula, Miss., was restored over the Labor Day weekend. Service on these lines will resume after assessment of individual customers' track and equipment ensures that their shipments can be moved safely. View the Association of American Railroads' website at www.aar.org and select RR Industry Info > Embargoes to view embargoes in effect in the Gulf Coast area.

Traffic that would normally move into or out of New Orleans is being rerouted to other locations on the CSXT network, and interchange traffic with western rail carriers is being routed through the Memphis, Montgomery, Nashville and St. Louis gateways. CSXT is making every effort to reroute traffic while minimizing any additional administrative burdens on customers.

CSX is continuing its communications with customers and rail interchange partners and is coordinating its service restoration plans with theirs.
_____

All precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of our employees, customers, and the public with minimum delay to shipments as we continue to monitor the progress of Ophelia and respond to the conditions following Katrina.

For more information, customers can call the CSX Customer Service Center at 1-877-ShipCSX (1-877-744-7279).

[CNJRoss]

Service Bulletin - Service Update, Sept. 16
Released: Sep 16, 2005

CSX has resumed service along its lines in North Carolina that were affected by Hurricane Ophelia this week.

For more information, customers can call the CSX Customer Service Center at 1-877-ShipCSX (1-877-744-7279).